re-revert: see the discussion on Talk:Israeli settlement, the term is not internationally recognized and rather WP:POV |
what is the international body that "recognizes" goegraphical names? |
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==Beit El== |
==Beit El== |
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After six months in hospital, he returned, on crutches, to study four more years in Yeshivat [[Mercaz Harav]]. |
After six months in hospital, he returned, on crutches, to study four more years in Yeshivat [[Mercaz Harav]]. |
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During that year he decided to re-establish [[Beit El]] in |
During that year he decided to re-establish [[Beit El]] in Samaria, nearly 2,000 years after the community was destroyed. He received the blessing of the late Rabbi [[Tzvi Yehuda Kook]], Dean of Yeshivat [[Merkaz HaRav]], for the project. He founded the [[Gush Emunim]] movement, which subsequently was responsible for effecting a [[Zionist]] revolution throughout the Biblical heartland of Israel. As a result, there are today more than half a million Jews living over the former [[Green Line (Israel)|“Green Line”]] – 250,000 in [[East Jerusalem]] and 275,000 in [[Judea and Samaria]]. |
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With the election of Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]] in 1978, Katz, with wife and children, were among the first ten families to establish the community of [[Beit El]] in the northern [[Judean Hills]] surrounding Jerusalem. Katz founded the Beit-El Yeshiva Center, an educational center comprising a myriad of institutions with over 1,200 students: the Beit El Yeshiva and Kollel, Teachers’ College, Har Bracha Hesder Yeshiva, Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva High School, Ra’aya Academy for Young Women (high school), Beit El Pre-Military Academy, as well as Arutz Sheva. |
With the election of Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]] in 1978, Katz, with wife and children, were among the first ten families to establish the community of [[Beit El]] in the northern [[Judean Hills]] surrounding Jerusalem. Katz founded the Beit-El Yeshiva Center, an educational center comprising a myriad of institutions with over 1,200 students: the Beit El Yeshiva and Kollel, Teachers’ College, Har Bracha Hesder Yeshiva, Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva High School, Ra’aya Academy for Young Women (high school), Beit El Pre-Military Academy, as well as Arutz Sheva. |
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==Arutz 7== |
==Arutz 7== |
Revision as of 15:01, 18 February 2009
Ya’akov Dov Katz (יעקב כץ) (born 29 September 1951), known as “Katzele” or “Ketzaleh”, is the head of the National Union-Hatikva Knesset list,[1] the Executive Director of Beit El Yeshiva Center Institutions and Arutz Sheva/Israel National News.
Early life
Katz was born 29 September 1951 in Jerusalem. A fifth generation Israeli, he graduated from the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva High School in Kfar Haroeh, and went on to study in Yeshivat Mercaz Harav in Jerusalem.[2]
In 1970, he enlisted in the Israeli Army and volunteered to serve in “Sayeret Shaked”, the IDF’s most elite commando unit. He served under then OC Southern Command General Ariel Sharon in the successful campaign to wipe out the Palestinian Arab terrorist infrastructure then dominant in Gaza. In 1972, he completed his officers’ course with distinction and commanded his own commando unit in Sayeret Shaked.[3]
With the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Katz was second in command in “Koach Patzi”, code name for a 12 man elite commando squad from the Shaked Commando unit comprising only officers. Operating directly under General Arik Sharon, this elite squad carried out difficult and bloody missions primarily behind enemy lines. On the eighth day of the war, General Sharon sent “Koach Patzi” to locate and destroy the largest incursion yet of Egyptian commandos sent in to prevent the Israelis crossing over the Suez Canal. In a key and bloody engagement, the 12 members of “Koach Patzi” wiped out the 70 entrenched and well-armed Egyptian commandos. During the ensuing battle, Katzele took a direct hit in his left hip by an RPG missile that left him near death. While lying on the desert sand seriously wounded, he made a personal oath to God, that should he survive, he would devote his life to settlement and education. Subsequently evacuated by General Sharon’s personal helicopter, Katzele fought death for months afterward in Beilinson Hospital.
It was during that period that he met his future wife Tami, a sociology student at Bar-Ilan University, who had volunteered to work in Beilinson Hospital helping nurse the worst wounded. In December 1973, Katz was featured in a special interview in The Jerusalem Post, wherein the reporter noted that although the 22 year-old commando officer was one of the worst wounded in the war, he was easily the most popular patient, with his incurable optimism, constant smile and encouraging words cheering up his fellow wounded.
Beit El
After six months in hospital, he returned, on crutches, to study four more years in Yeshivat Mercaz Harav. During that year he decided to re-establish Beit El in Samaria, nearly 2,000 years after the community was destroyed. He received the blessing of the late Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook, Dean of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, for the project. He founded the Gush Emunim movement, which subsequently was responsible for effecting a Zionist revolution throughout the Biblical heartland of Israel. As a result, there are today more than half a million Jews living over the former “Green Line” – 250,000 in East Jerusalem and 275,000 in Judea and Samaria.
With the election of Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1978, Katz, with wife and children, were among the first ten families to establish the community of Beit El in the northern Judean Hills surrounding Jerusalem. Katz founded the Beit-El Yeshiva Center, an educational center comprising a myriad of institutions with over 1,200 students: the Beit El Yeshiva and Kollel, Teachers’ College, Har Bracha Hesder Yeshiva, Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva High School, Ra’aya Academy for Young Women (high school), Beit El Pre-Military Academy, as well as Arutz Sheva.
Arutz 7
In 1987, Katz bought an oceangoing vessel upon which to set up a national educational radio station, Arutz Sheva (Channel 7). At its peak, Arutz 7 Radio broadcasts, in four languages, reached a combined daily listenership of more than one million. Even today with its radio broadcasts done via the internet alone, more than 100,000 Israelis continue to listen faithfully. Its multi-media (print, audio & video) and multi-language (English, Hebrew, Russian & French) websites and daily email news service are among the largest coming from Israel. In addition, Arutz 7 Israel National News (INN-TV) produces daily TV news and features for broadcast on the internet and cable TV, and in 2002, Katzele founded the weekly Israeli newspaper, B’Sheva, Israel’s fourth largest circulation newspaper (140,000 circulation), the leading newspaper to the national religious and Haredi public.
Politics
In 1990–92, Katz served as deputy to then Minister of Housing and Construction Arik Sharon, and actively participated in the absorption of the mass influx of Russian olim. He was directly responsible for the construction of upwards of 35,000 housing units in East Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan. These homes alleviated a lack of housing in Israeli urban areas and enabled the Jewish population over the former “Green Line” to more than double.
In December 2008, Katz became chairman of the National Union-Moledet Knesset list. His appointment as party leader led to the nullification of all the smaller nationalist parties running on separate lists. The larger parties united behind him in a single unified Knesset list.
Music
Akiva Margaliot released a CD called "Aseh" containing songs with musical arrangements composed by Katz.[4]
Personal life
He is married, with seven children (four married) and more than 10 grandchildren. His four oldest sons have followed in his footsteps and have served and are serving in most elite commando units in the IDF.
References
- ^ Fendel, Hillel (January 20, 2009). "Ketzaleh Convenes Party to Plan Campaign Strategy". Israel National News. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Yaakov Katz (Ketzele)- Chairman of the Ichud Leumi Party‚ in an Exclusive Interview to Eretz Yisroel Shelanu". Eretz Yisroel Shelanu. January 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Yaakov Katz (Ketzele)- Chairman of the Ichud Leumi Party‚ in an Exclusive Interview to Eretz Yisroel Shelanu". Eretz Yisroel Shelanu. January 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Jewish Music News". Chasidi News. September 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
External links
- Exclusive interview with Eretz Yisrael Shelanu Accessed 2009-02-10